Lawmakers wise to fix tax lid, dismiss complaint

Lawmakers should repeal a new state law limiting local property taxes, as it is an unwarranted interference in local government. But at least they fixed a drafting error in the law Friday so that the tax lid goes into effect in 2018, instead of Wednesday. A special legislative panel also wisely dismissed a complaint filed against Rep. Valdenia Winn, D-Kansas City, by nine GOP lawmakers. During a committee hearing earlier this session, Winn accused supporters of a bill to revoke in-state college tuition rates for children of undocumented immigrants of being “racist bigots.” Winn shouldn’t have used that language, but her comments didn’t justify an official reprimand, censure or expulsion. – Phillip Brownlee